Iceland must contend with the burden of expectation as they begin their bid to reach a first major tournament at home to Turkey on Tuesday.
Few gave the Nordic nation a chance of realistically competing for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup but, after narrowly missing out on qualification, hope is high they can make it to Euro 2016.
Two teams will qualify automatically from Group A which also features the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Latvia and Kazakhstan with the third-placed finishers going into a play-off.
Having risen in the FIFA rankings from 131st in April 2012 to 46th, Iceland are now close behind the Turks and the Czechs with momentum in their favour.
Iceland, who unusually have co-coaches in veteran Swede Lars Lagerback and 47-year-old Icelander…